Rail-joint spring



Sept. 18, 1928.

- L. s. ENDSLEY RKIL JOINT sigma Filed Sept. 13, 1927 -unl-m INVgNTOR \Q? E, Evwb I gy 5mm... WM

Patented Sept. 18, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT- OFFICE.

LOUIS E, .ENDSLEY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO VERONA TOOL WORKS, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

BAIL-JOINT SPRING.

Application filed september 13, 1927. Serial No. 219,272.

This invention relates to rail joint springs and is designed to provide .an improved spring which bridges at least two bolts in the splice bar, and holds the splice bar with a yielding pressureso as to take up wear and reduce the battering of the rail ends.

In the WVoodings Patent 1,416,152, dated May 16th, 1922, there is described and claimed a rail spring of the leaf type com prising acentral portion having a curvature such that some degree of permanent set isobtained when the bolts are tightened.

While a rail spring of the lVoodings type has been found generally satisfactory in operation, I have found that the exact degree of pressure which may be obtained from its use is somewhat uncertain, due to the permanent set which is effected when the rail spring is put in place. The Woodings rail spring initially engages the splice bar at a point substantially intermediate the bolts which engage it. I provide a rail joint spring whose central portion is adapted to'initi ally engage the splice bar at spaced apartpoints. This central portion is preferably flat and the end portions are curved so as to lie away from' the splice bar.

I preferably make the spring of varying thickness across its width. A desirable rail spring has been madechannel-like in cross section with the thickened edges extending toward the splice bar. The, bolt receiving holes are formed in the web portion of the channel. This cross section gives a greater section modulus than is secured in a rail spring of uniform thickness. It is found in practice that my improved spring can be compressed to a desired load with far lesswork than a spring of the lVoodings type,

and further, that a definite spring load can which is adjacent the rail in use.

erally by the reference character 5, and is shown as engaging pairs of bolts 4.

The rail spring is made of a metal bar whose cross sectional shape is shown in Figure 4. Thebar has a flat central portion 6 adaptedto initially lie alongside the splice plate 3'. Ateach end the spring is provided with a port1on7 so curved that it lies initially out of engagement with the splice bar 8, but 7 has its corners 8 directed toward the splice bar 3. Bolt holes 9 are provided in the curved portions 7. When the bolts 4 are drawn iip, the corners 8 are pulled against the splice bar 3 and the central portion '6 is bowed slightly. This bowing is exaggerated 1n F1g. 1 for purpose of 1llnstration. It is found n practice that no permanent deformation of the metal is effected and that a defiinvention may be otherwiseembodied within the scope of the following claims.

I clalm 1. A rail oint spring comprising, a longitndinally curved bar, the bar mate 'ial being of varying.thickness across its width.

2. A rail joint spring comprising a longitudinally curved bar, the bar being channellike in cross section.

j 8. A rail joint spring comprising a longi tudinally curved bar, the bar having a thin central portion with a thickened edge.

4:. A rail joint spring comprising a longitudinally curved bar, the bar having a. recess forn'ied in a face thereof so as to provide'a spring of varying thickness across itswidth, the recess lying on the side of the rail spring '5. A rail joint spring comprisingxa bar having acentral portion-adapted to initially.

engage'a splice bar-at longitudinally spaced points, and curved portions lying at either endof the space defined by such points, the curved portions having openings therethrough to receive bolts.

6. A rail joint spring comprising a bar I having a eentral portion adapted to initially 

